ARRY vs SHLS vs FTCI

For growth investors, FTC Solar, Inc.

(FTCI) is the stronger pick with 110. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 19. 1% for Shoals Technologies Group, Inc. (SHLS). Shoals Technologies Group, Inc. (SHLS) offers the better valuation at 41. 6x trailing P/E (20. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Array Technologies, Inc. (ARRY) a "Buy" — based on 28 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On forward P/E, Array Technologies, Inc.

is actually cheaper at 11. 6x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Array Technologies, Inc.

(ARRY) delivered a total return of -68. 0%, compared to -96. 9% for FTC Solar, Inc. (FTCI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SHLS returned -73. 1% versus FTCI's -97. 2%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Shoals Technologies Group, Inc.

(SHLS) is the lower-risk stock at 2. 08β versus FTC Solar, Inc. 's 2. 75β — meaning FTCI is approximately 32% more volatile than SHLS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Shoals Technologies Group, Inc. (SHLS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 29% versus 3% for Array Technologies, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), FTC Solar, Inc.

(FTCI) is pulling ahead at 110. 5% versus 19. 1% for Shoals Technologies Group, Inc. (SHLS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Array Technologies, Inc. grew EPS 62. 6% year-over-year, compared to -43. 3% for FTC Solar, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, SHLS leads at 13. 3% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Shoals Technologies Group, Inc.

(SHLS) is the more profitable company, earning 7. 1% net margin versus -77. 2% for FTC Solar, Inc. — meaning it keeps 7. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SHLS leads at 11. 9% versus -33. 5% for FTCI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SHLS leads at 35. 0%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, Array Technologies, Inc.

(ARRY) trades at 11. 6x forward P/E versus 20. 6x for Shoals Technologies Group, Inc. — 9. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for FTCI: 275. 0% to $15. 00.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Shoals Technologies Group, Inc.

(SHLS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding. FTC Solar, Inc. (FTCI) carries a higher beta of 2. 75 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (SHLS: -73. 1%, FTCI: -97. 2%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Energy sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.